Horse-collar



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

O. E. 'AKELEY HORSE COLLAR.

No. 556,953. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

ANDREW B GRAHAM FMOVO-UMQWASHINGEMJL 2 sham-4mm 2.

(bio Model.)

0. E. AKELEY.

HORSE COLLAR.

No. 556,953. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

N. PNWO-UTHO WASNI NGTQN D G UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL E. AKELEY, OF MILIVAUKEE, "WISCONSIN.

HORSE-COLLAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,953, dated March 24, 1896.

Application filed September 16, 1893. Serial No, 485,644. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL E. AKELEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse- Collars; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has for its object to provide a preferably adjustable collar that will yield to pressure, absorb vibration, and not chafe or scald a horse on which it may be utilized, said invention consisting in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of a horse-collar constructed according to my invention and having certain of the parts in section; Fig. 2, a rear view of a portion of the same having a fibrous facing, partly detached; Fig. 3, a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detail view illustrating the preferred connection of one of a series of spiral springs with a foraminous metal bearing-plate, this view being taken on line i 4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5, a detail sectional view showing the bearing-plate in spring connection with a base that may serve as a hame Fig. 6, a plan view, partly in horizontal section, illustrating the upper portion of the collar; Fig. '7, a section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a detail plan view of a plate from which a neck-pad is suspended and which also serves as a guide for a horizontal extension-bar; Fig. 9, aplan view illustrating the lower portion of the collar; Fig. 10, a section taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 a similar view taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 6.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A 13 represent a pair of hame-shaped frame-sections in the form of metal castings, each of which has an angularly-flanged opening of suitable length intermediate of its extremities for the reception and retention of a wooden base 0, the latter being somewhat elliptical in transverse section, as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the castings is preferably provided with a tug-eye b, and is thus serviceable as a hame, the wooden base in said casting being utilized as a foundation for the peculiar shoulder-pads hereinafter specifically set forth as constituting essential features of my invention. While I have shown a wooden base in each of the aforesaid castings, it is possible to so shape the latter as to avoid the neces sity for the employment of such bases, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the construction and arrangement of parts above specified.

The upper ends of the castings A B are shown as provided on their inner edges with a series of notches for engagement with lateral lugs c on shackles D E, that surround said upper ends of the casting. The shackle D is pivotally connected to a horizontal bar F, adjustable on a similar bar G, that is preferably a rigid extension of the shackle E, and in dovetail sliding engagement with a plate H, from which I suspend a neck-pad of the peculiar construction hereinafter specified.

As herein shown, at least one of the parallel horizontal bars F G is provided with a series of keyholes, the other bar having one or a series of such holes, as may be found preferable in practice, and the requisite spread of the collar at its upper end is had by a movement of said bars on each other in the proper direction. A11 adjustment having been effected, the same is maintained by means of a key I passed through registering holes in said bars and turned to have its bit or bits stand at an angle to the passages provided for them, the stem of the key being then held parallel to the aforesaid horizontal bars by means of a band 01 encircling the same.

The plate H, engaged with the horizontal spreader-bar G, is provided with a series of openings, and by means of a countersunk bolt or key J, engaging one of these openings and a single opening in said bar, said plate may be held in the proper adjustment necessary to a centering of the neck-pad suspended therefrom.

By having at least one of the spreader-bars F G pivotally connected to its shackle the collar may be readily opened or closed, and the vertical adjustment of the neck-pad is determined by the engagement of the shacklelugs with the notches in the upper ends of the hame-like castings.

The lower ends of the castings A B overlap each other when the collar is in place on a horse, and one of these ends is recessed to engage and guide the other. At least one of the lower ends of the castings is provided with a series of keyholes, the other having one or a series of such holes, as may be found most convenient, and the requisite spread of the collar at its lower extremity is had by a movement of said lower ends of the castings on each other, their adjustment being maintained by a key K in a manner similar to. that above described in connection with the horizontal spreader-bars for the upper portion of the collar, said key being held in looking position by a band a or other suitable means.

The neck-pad comprises a sheet L of woven wire or other suitable foraminous metal given the desired shape and herein shown as having a facing M of felt or other fibrous and porous material laced or otherwise detachably connected'thereto, although such a facing is not necessary when the foram-inous sheet is made from Zinc. rVhen woven-wire material is employed I prefer to bind the longitudinal edges of the sheets L with sheet-metal strips.

Fast on the foraininous metal sheet, and constituting parts of the neck-pad, are a se ries of spiral springs N, preferably arranged in two rows and j oined, to the plate H above specified. Each shoulder-pad comprises a sheet P of woven wire or other suitable foraminous metal bent into the proper shape, and when necessary or desirable a facing Q of porous fibrous material is laced or otherwise detachably connected thereto. A series of spiral springs R, constituting parts of the pad, connect with the foraininous metal sheet and one of the wooden bases G above specified, or if these bases be omitted its substitute will be in connection with the springs.

As best shown in Fig. 4, a spider-plate S is interposed between each spring and the wovenwire material in the shoulder-pads, and the same construction is preferably employed in the neck-pad.

From the foregoing it will beseen that there is a circulation of air in and about all the pads, and consequently the latter are kept cool and prevent chafing or scalding of a horse wearing my improved collar, while at the same time the springs yield to pressure in all directions and absorb vibration that would otherwise come upon said horse. When the porous fibrous facings are employed they absorb perspiration from the horse and they are made detachable to facilitate cleaning or renewal.

Having now fully described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a horse-collar the combination of a pair of stiff frame-sections notched upon their inner upper ends and constituting hames, shackles loose on the frame-sections and having lugs for engagement with the notches thereof, ahorizon tal bar extended inward from one of the shackles, a similar bar pivotally connected to the other shackle and adjustable longitudinally of the former bar, together with a key for engagement with keyholes in the bars these holes being in such arrangement as to admit of a spread of said frame-sections. substantially asset forth.

2. In a horse-collar the combination of a pair of stiff frame-sections or hames braced apart at their upper ends by overlapping horizontal bars adjustable one upon the other and connected to the upper end of the frame-sections, a plate adjustably connected to the lower one of the bars, and a neck-pad depending from the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a horse-collar, the combination of a pair of stiff frame-sections or hanies adjustably connected at their ends, a series of springs extended from each frame-section, and asuitably-bent sheet of woven wire or its substantial equivalent arranged on the springs to be clear of the adjacent frame-section and thereby have its outer side exposed to air.

4:. In a horse-collar, the. combination of a pair of suitably-connected stiff frame-sections or hames each of which is a metal casting having a flanged opening, a wooden base set in said opening, a series of springs joined to each wooden base, and a suitably-bent sheet of woven wire or its substantial equivalent arranged on the springs to be clear of the ad jacent fraine-section and thereby have its outer side exposed to air.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL E. AKELEY.

IVi-tnesses:

N. E. OLIPHANT, HENRY DANKERT. 

